Chapter 1216: Chapter 1216: The Second 4791st Year
The witch under the moon is so enchanting, her song seemingly accompanied by the twinkling starlight. In the golden theater’s center stage, at this mont, none can resist the witch’s charm.
Shard even wonders if this Maze Lock was originally created for performance purposes.
Yet, no matter how beautiful the song is, it must eventually end, while Shard’s Arcane Technique [Voice of Music] has fully recorded Miss Benanis’s voice.
As the scenery of the Maze Lock fades away around them, the ceiling once again covers overhead, and the gas lamps along the walls are relit one by one, the four spectators in the Maze Lock’s audience excitedly applauded together.
The witch gracefully lifted her skirt on the stage to salute them, while Shard clapped along, pondering how the ancient deity would view this song once he opens the Ti Key later.
In his view, there is no song more fitting to present to the deity. Fortunately, he has already obtained the sole answer.
Opening the Maze Lock, even if not used for battle, still caused considerable drain to the witch, due to the peculiar side effects of the [Perfu Bottle of Desire], hence Shard did not take it out.
They t again backstage, and Shard did not hesitate to lavishly praise her. Although Miss Benanis feigned modesty, being complinted by a man capable of fascinating other witches imnsely pleased her. The witch resisted showing a smile, bidding farewell with Miss Lathis and Shard’s group.
Night had deepened, the performance formally ended, and everyone achieved their goals. Witnessing Miss Benanis’s prowess, Margaret firmly decided to beco her apprentice.
Her Highness the Princess, upon learning Luviya was staying at the Abundant Land Inn in the city center, insisted on taking a carriage to send her back. During the journey to the inn, Shard also introduced the princess to his relationship with Luviya, which was not necessary to hide.
“Yes, I once said there are many girls around …”
Even though he had already admitted it, saying it out loud still made Shard a bit embarrassed.
Margaret held her head high, observing Luviya with a mixture of composure and arrogance, while Luviya smiled back at her.
For quite a while, Margaret eventually asked:
“This Miss Annette, when did you… confirm the relationship?”
Before Shard could speak, Luviya said with a smile:
“At the Year-End Festival, Princess Lecia Cavendish called
‘sister,’ just to allow Shard to go out on a date with her.”
Although omitting so details, this indeed is the truth.
Margaret’s smile stiffened montarily, she glanced at Shard, noticed he didn’t deny it, and slightly bowed her raised neck, restraining her feigned arrogant deanor, revealing an almost pitiful expression. She was quite aware of Lecia’s thods and how proud the Northern Princess is. Even in this situation, seeing the purple-eyed girl able to make Lecia yield, Margaret knew how to respond:
“Miss Annette… Luviya, nice to et you.”
The Female Diviner displayed a sowhat arrogant yet satisfying expression:
“No need to be so formal, but I think we will have many common topics. By coincidence, due to matters involving the Prophet’s Society, I’ll be staying locally for a while, so we may talk privately if the ti allows.”
She glanced at Shard beside her, raising an eyebrow at him. Shard kept silent at this mont, quite aware that saying anything now would be inappropriate.
The Ti Key for the Fifth Era of 4791 should have reopened at dawn this Sunday, but got postponed due to the song. Now that he had already “obtained” the song, it was ti to use the key.
After sending Luviya back to the inn, Her Highness the Princess then escorted Shard to Cherry Leaf Avenue. Shard, sowhat excited, hurriedly returned ho, first hugged his cat which was sent ho by Dorothy in the evening, then prepared the items to take with him this ti.
Dorothy did not stay with Shard tonight, she left a note explaining Mia’s lunch and dinner als. A day without seeing Shard, the cat missed him terribly.
Upon seeing Shard take out the wooden key, it instantly understood Shard’s intent. Thus, the cat owed, rubbing against Shard’s leg, clearly wanting to join him on this adventure. But Shard refused it, as the destination had many insects, whether Mia was frightened by the insect swarm or not scared but rather pounced towards them, neither outco was good news for him.
Clean and tidy cat, best not to get too close to the bugs:
“Mia, stay ho and wait for … May the World Tree bless
through infinite ti.”
Click~
The cat squatted nearby, watching as Shard stepped through the White Mist Gate.
[Outlander, you have stepped into the “Ti Corridor.”]
[ssage from the Ancient God “Father of the Infinite Tree”:]
[Fifth Era 4791 Autumn, Southern Continent, Worm Cave.]
[Event: Butterfly Festival.]
[Duration: Thirty minutes (2/3).]
[You have gained additional information.]
[The Father of the Infinite Tree is watching you.]
[The Ancient God of Ti has given you a test.]
[Help the mortals complete the Old God’s ‘Thousand-Eye Illusion Butterfly’ festival, enabling one to receive the favor of the Familiars.]
[The Father of the Infinite Tree will reward you: Arcane Technique – Fiona’s Housekeeper, a piece of true information – rmaid.]
“Fiona’s Housekeeper… I noticed it last ti, Miss Orland’s apprentice, that Miss Drago’s na is also Fiona, I wonder if it’s just a coincidence.”
The image of the Red Dragon Witch flashed through Shard’s mind, as he recalled the large tail behind the young witch, Shard couldn’t help but smile.
Stepping forward again in the white mist, as it dissipated around him, a chilly stench imdiately assaulted his nostrils. An eerie, narrow, damp underground passage appeared around him, but this ti Shard did not pause, he sprinted forward. As hordes of multi-colored writhing insects poured from small holes around the passage, he had already sprinted almost a third of the distance, relying on “Lagre’s Leap” and “Scarlet Butterfly Form”.
The insects around and beneath him were manageable, but the “Bug Rain” gushing like a fountain from tiny holes above was the most unbearable. In a crisis-induced rush, Shard displayed speed beyond his usual capacity. Fortunately, the upcoming path wasn’t long, and the success of the God Summoning Ritual allowed vines clinging to the cave walls to invade the internal passage, blocking the insect holes at the exit. Thus, Shard’s “escape” this ti was more successful than the last.
As the swarm of red butterflies flew out from the cave walls, Maggie Blachett, the middle-aged witch sitting around the huge wooden round table, called “Saint Perry” by Iluna, Ms. Ollie Perry, and Fred Lehman, who liked girls with animal traits, all turned just in ti to see the swarm descend from the sky and the familiar silhouette of the young man erge from the butterfly swarm.
Shard didn’t look at his companions, he dusted off his clothes, suppressing the imagined crawling sensation of insects on him, and respectfully saluted to the deity seated on the opposite side of the table filled with delicacies:
“Butterfly God, I have returned to your banquet with the song dedicated to you. Please forgive
for my recent departure. I believe the ballad I bring will satisfy you.”
The deity, seemingly with transparent wings and whose appearance changed with each observation, smiled and nodded:
“I look forward to your ballad.”
Shard seated himself at the table, his seat easily identifiable as each had three small flowers beside it.
“How long have I been away?”
Seated, Shard softly asked the middle-aged witch beside him, who regretfully shook her head:
“Ti doesn’t exist here. It might have been just an instant or several months.”
Shard nodded and took out the items prepared for everyone. Mr. Lehman, who wished to marry the butterfly girl, requested a Lyra, Sister Perry’s was the church poetry to “Song of the Earth”, and the middle-aged witch requested fresh leaves.
Seeing the deity watching them converse with a smile, without urging for the song, Shard quietly asked the middle-aged nun flipping through the book:
“Sister Perry, do you know about the peculiar phenonon ‘Crazy Earth’?”
The nun nodded in surprise, likewise lowering her voice:
“Yes, there are tales of it in my diocese, although it is said to appear only once every few hundred years.”
It seems that during the Fifth Era, the problems in Randall Valley weren’t as severe.
“How does the Church solve such a phenonon?”
Shard asked again, Sister Perry shook her head:
“I am neither a Church Witch nor a Circle Sorcerer, but I’ve heard it requires the power of our Lord [Lantern Bearer].”
Which refers to a Divine Ritual, it appears the solution in the Fifth Era is not much different from the Sixth Era. This nun, who was canonized after death, probably knows nothing about it now.
“What a coincidence, I’ve heard about such tales as well.”
The middle-aged witch Miss Bletchett suddenly spoke, and as Shard turned to look at her, she carefully explained:
“I believe in the Great One [The Forgotten Old Man], the Order’s headquarters is in the place Sister ntioned just now. However, as I am not a core mber of the Order, I have only heard of this matter.”
Council mbers of the Witch Council must be followers of the Ancient God [Chaos Witch], other witches have no such restrictions. For Twelfth Rank witches like Mrs. Blanchett, devout faith isn’t common. Should there be an opportunity to beco a Council mber, believing in [Chaos Witch] wouldn’t be a hindrance for them (note).
“The Cult of the Forgotten?”
Shard slightly furrowed his brows, he had many questions about that church. But now is the Fifth Era, that is the Sixth Era. Even hearing of the belief in this mysterious Old God again, he had few questions that he could get answered from a witch of this era.
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